Worcester, MA- After grabbing the win last evening, the Lancers (6-9-1, 4-1-1) were back in action in Pennsylvania looking to make a clean sweep of the trip with another victory over Arcadia University (9-5, 7-3). Worcester grabbed the victory last night 4-3 after Arcadia pulled their goalie down 4-2 in a bid to push the game to overtime.

Final

Worcester State: 2

Arcadia: 3

The opening action would see the Lancers on their heels initially as the Knights opened up the shooting action and an early goal just a minute and a half into the action as the Knights' Haylee Kos went down the ice and slipped it past first year goaltender Lana Pacific (Marlborough, MA). Worcester State would eventually settle into the period, shutting down all additional threats from Arcadia to end the first only down the single goal. Each team would end the period with 10 shots on goal, while the Lancers played nearly pristine defense, ending the period without providing a single power play opportunity.

Following the first break in play both the Knights and the Lancers would put the pressure on. With an even battle across the slick surface, Worcester looked for the gap to grab their first goal. A second penalty on the day for Arcadia would provide Worcester the opening they needed as senior Cassidhe Wozniak (Turner Falls, MA) would find the back of the net off dishes from sophomore Jennarae Bateman (Wyoming, MN) and graduate student Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) with just under seven minutes remaining in the period. The Lancers would eventually give up their first penalties, but their defense never lost focus, ensuring the Knights could not reclaim the lead taking a 1-1 game into the final period of action.

Arcadia spent their 2nd intermission determining how to crack the Kancers defense and came out to execute, scoring their second goal of the game just one minute from Kianna Saillant for their second unassisted goal of the game. Just over one minute later the lead would extend to two for the Knights with their third unassisted action, this time from Ariel Williamson. A timeout for Worcester would allow the Lancers to refocus and re-energize their attack, as they worked to shift the momentum back in their favor. After a failed attempt to cut into the lead with the skater advantage in the 8' minute of action, Worcester would cut the lead to one at 11:29 with a second goal from Wozniak, again assisted by Puumala. Worcester would amp up the attacking pressure through the remainder of the period, going into the old hockey trick book in the final minute and half when they pulled Pacific for the extra skater. Worcester was able to rocket off seven shots to close out the period, but the Knights Sophia Szelag and the defense surrounding the net would hold off the Lancers onslaught as Worcester dropped the game 2-3.

Wozniak would lead the team with 11 shots in the game, as the Lancers fired off 60 with 28 finding the frame. Pacific would close out the day with 31 saves.

Worcester drops to (6-10-1, 4-1-1) and returns to action on Tuesday when they host their first home game of 2024, welcoming New England College to the Worcester Ice Center for a 6:10pm puck drop.